There were fumbles, interceptions and penalties, but despite those issues the Kansas State Wildcats found a way to win their season opening football game over South Dakota 27-24 Saturday night in Manhattan.

An 85-yard punt return by Isiah Zuber with 12:12 remaining in the fourth quarter proved to be a key for the Wildcats as they began to erase a 12 point deficit in that period. Zuber credited his punt return team on the big play. “Everybody was blocked, it was 10-on-10. I just had to make a move on the kicker, was in the end zone.” Zuber also caught the game winning touchdown pass from Skylar Thompson with 7:21 when he leaped into the air, caught the pass and came down with one still in the end zone before falling out of bounds.

The Wildcats were trying to secure a first down and run out the clock late in the game in South Dakota territory when running back Alex Barnes fumbled for the third time in the ballgame. The football was recovered by South Dakota with :52 seconds to play. The Coyotes drove down the field but a 51-yard field goal attempt by Mason Lorber on the final play of the game was short, allowing the Wildcats to claim the 27-24 win.

After the game Barnes addressed his last fumble. ” It was really tough, I

took it for granted today. And I also want to apologize to all the K-State fans that came today. I didn’t come ready and I’m a better player than that. I know I am, my teammates know that to and we’re going to take some responsibility for this offensive poor performance, we’re going to come back better next week.”

K-State placekicker Blake Lynch turned in a strong effort, scoring the first 12 points of the game for the Wildcats when he made 4-of-4 field goal attempts.

Kansas State had five turnovers in the game, and 13 penalties for 129 yards. K-State Coach Bill Snyder was asked in his postgame press conference about his emotions at that moment. “Well, I am, you know, all of them…angered, disappointed, etc. But it goes back again, we can say all we want about anything, but I just didn’t have them prepared to play. If they were ready to play and played the way we wanted them to, which is my responsibility, we would have probably fared a little better than what we did.”

Total attendance was 50,063 fans at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

The Wildcats host Mississippi State next Saturday.